Digital still camera and method of controlling same

ABSTRACT

Access point information such as ESS-ID, WEP-KEY for the purpose of performing a transmission using a wireless LAN has been recorded on a two-dimensional bar code. The image of the two-dimensional bar code is sensed using a digital still camera and the image of the two-dimensional bar code is obtained. The access point information is read from the obtained image of the two-dimensional bar code. Image data is transmitted by a wireless LAN using the access point information read. When the image of the two-dimensional bar code is sensed, the camera is set to a macro image sensing mode automatically. Since the two-dimensional bar code can thus be subjected to close-up imaging and a comparatively large image can be obtained, the access point information can be read comparatively accurately.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a digital still camera and to a method ofcontrolling the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Because of their ability to record a variety of information, bar codeshave diverse uses. By reading a bar code using a bar-code reader, thecontent indicated by the bar code is recognized. A bar code may not onlybe read by a bar-code reader but can also have its image sensed tothereby read the content thereof (see the specification of JapanesePatent Application Laid-Open No. 9-114913).

Since a bar code is comparatively small in size, it is necessary toobtain a large image by close-up imaging.

Further, there is also an arrangement in which by taking a picture of aprint control command using a digital still camera, the command iscaptured and input to the digital still camera (see the specification ofJapanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-131838).

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to obtain a comparatively largebar-code image.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the foregoingobject is attained by providing a digital still camera having an imagesensing device for sensing the image of a subject and outputting imagedata representing the image of the subject, and a recording controllerfor recording image data, which has been output from the image sensingdevice, on a recording medium, the digital still camera comprising: abar-code-image sensing mode setting device for setting a mode forsensing the image of a bar code in which has been recorded settinginformation to be used in a transmission utilizing a wireless LAN; animage sensing controller for controlling the image sensing device, inresponse to setting of the bar-code-image sensing mode by thebar-code-image sensing mode setting device, so as to sense the image ofthe bar code by a macro image sensing mode and output bar-code imagedata representing the image of the bar code; a wireless-LAN settinginformation detecting device for detecting the wireless-LAN settinginformation from the bar-code image data, which has been output from theimage sensing device, based upon control by the image sensingcontroller; and a wireless-LAN transmitting device for wirelesslytransmitting image data, which has been recorded on the recordingmedium, using the wireless-LAN setting information that has beendetected by the wireless-LAN setting information detecting device.

The first aspect of the present invention provides also a control methodsuited to the digital still camera described above. Specifically, thepresent invention provides a method of controlling a digital stillcamera having an image sensing device for sensing the image of a subjectand outputting image data representing the image of the subject, and arecording controller for recording image data, which has been outputfrom the image sensing device, on a recording medium, the methodcomprising the steps of: controlling the image sensing device, inresponse to setting of a mode for sensing the image of a bar code inwhich has been recorded setting information to be used in a transmissionutilizing a wireless LAN, so as to sense the image of the bar code by amacro image sensing mode and output bar-code image data representing theimage of the bar code; detecting the wireless-LAN setting informationfrom the bar-code image data, which has been output from the imagesensing device; and wirelessly transmitting image data, which has beenrecorded on the recording medium, by a wireless LAN using the detectedwireless-LAN setting information.

In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, the imageof a bar code in which has been recorded setting information to be usedin a transmission utilizing a wireless LAN is sensed by a macro imagesensing mode when a bar-code-image sensing mode is set. Wireless-LANsetting information is detected from bar-code image data obtained bysensing the image of the bar code. Image data that has been recorded ona recording medium is transmitted wirelessly using the detectedwireless-LAN setting information.

Since the sensing of the bar-code image is performed in the macro imagesensing mode (the focal length of the image sensing device is set to beshort by the macro image sensing mode), close-up imaging can be carriedout and a large bar-code image obtained. The wireless-LAN settinginformation that has been recorded in the bar code can be readcomparatively accurately.

The digital still camera may further comprise a preview mode settingdevice for setting a preview mode; a camera internal memory fortemporarily storing image data, which has been output from the imagesensing device, in accordance with the preview mode that has been set bythe preview mode setting device; and a recording command device forinputting a recording command. In such case the recording controllerwould record image data, which has been stored temporarily in the camerainternal memory, on the recording medium in response to input of arecording command from the recording command device, and thewireless-LAN setting information detecting device would detect thewireless-LAN setting information from the bar-code image data that hasbeen stored temporarily in the camera internal memory.

Preferably, the digital still camera further comprises a controller forcontrolling the image sensing controller and the wireless-LANinformation detecting device so as to repeat the sensing of bar code andthe detection of the wireless-LAN setting information in response tofailure of detection of the wireless-LAN information by the wireless-LANinformation detecting device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the foregoingobject is attained by providing a digital still camera having an imagesensing device for sensing the image of a subject and outputting imagedata representing the image of the subject, and a recording controllerfor recording image data, which has been output from the image sensingdevice, on a recording medium, the digital still camera comprising: abar-code-image sensing mode setting device for setting a mode forsensing the image of a bar code in which has been recorded image-datatransmission destination information; an image sensing controller forcontrolling the image sensing device, in response to setting of thebar-code-image sensing mode by the bar-code-image sensing mode settingdevice so as to sense the image of the bar code by a macro image sensingmode and output bar-code image data representing the image of the barcode; a transmission-destination information detecting device fordetecting the transmission-destination information from the bar-codeimage data, which has been output from the image sensing device, basedupon control by the image sensing controller; and a wireless LAN devicefor wirelessly transmitting image data, which has been recorded on therecording medium, to the transmission destination specified by thetransmission-destination information detected by thetransmission-destination information detecting device.

The second aspect of the present invention provides also a controlmethod suited to the digital still camera described above. Specifically,the present invention provides a method of controlling a digital stillcamera having an image sensing device for sensing the image of a subjectand outputting image data representing the image of the subject, and arecording controller for recording image data, which has been outputfrom the image sensing device, on a recording medium, the methodcomprising the steps of: controlling the image sensing device, inresponse to setting of a mode for sensing the image of a bar code inwhich has been recorded image-data transmission destination information,so as to sense the image of the bar code by a macro image sensing modeand output bar-code image data representing the image of the bar code;detecting the transmission-destination information from the bar-codeimage data that has been output from the image sensing device; andwirelessly transmitting image data, which has been recorded on therecording medium, to the transmission destination specified by thetransmission-destination information detected.

Since the second aspect of the present invention also is such that thesensing of the bar-code image is performed in the macro image sensingmode, a comparatively large bar-code image can be obtained. Thetransmission-destination information that has been recorded in the barcode can be read comparatively accurately.

The digital still camera according to the second aspect of the presentinvention also may further comprise a preview mode setting device forsetting a preview mode; a camera internal memory for temporarily storingimage data, which has been output from the image sensing device, inaccordance with the preview mode that has been set by the preview modesetting device; and a recording command device for inputting a recordingcommand. In such case the recording controller would record image data,which has been stored temporarily in the camera internal memory, on therecording medium in response to a recording command that has been inputfrom the recording command device, and the transmission-destinationinformation detecting device would detect the transmission-destinationinformation from the bar-code image data that has been storedtemporarily in the camera internal memory.

The digital still camera further comprises a controller for controllingthe image sensing controller and the transmission-destinationinformation detecting device so as to repeat the detecting of thebar-code information and transmission-destination information inresponse to failure of detection of the transmission-destinationinformation by the transmission-destination information detectingdevice.

Furthermore, in a case where the image sensing device includes asolid-state image sensing element for sensing the image of a subject andoutputting an analog video signal representing the image of the subject,a gain-control amplifying circuit for adjusting level of the analogvideo signal that has been output from the solid-state image sensingelement, and an analog/digital converting circuit for converting theanalog video signal, which has been output from the gain-controlamplifying circuit, to image data, the digital still camera may furthercomprises: an electronic flash device; and a controller for exercisingcontrol so as to turn off a light emission in the electronic flashdevice and raise gain in the gain-control amplifying circuit in responseto setting of the bar-code-image sensing mode by the bar-code-imagesensing mode setting device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the foregoingobject is attained by providing a digital still camera for sensing theimage of a subject using an image sensing device and recording imagedata, which represents the image of the subject, on a recording medium,comprising: a setting device for setting a wireless-LAN transmissionmode; a wireless LAN device for wirelessly transmitting image data,which has been recorded on the recording medium, based upon setwireless-LAN information in response to setting of the wireless-LANtransmission mode by the wireless-LAN transmission mode setting device;a bar-code-image sensing mode setting device for setting a mode forsensing the image of a bar code, in which wireless-LAN settinginformation has been recorded, in accordance with setting of thewireless-LAN transmission mode by the wireless-LAN transmission modesetting device; an image sensing controller for controlling the imagesensing device in response to setting of the bar-code-image sensing modeby the bar-code-image sensing mode setting device so as to sense theimage of the bar code and output bar-code image data representing theimage of the bar code; a wireless-LAN transmission information detectingdevice for detecting the wireless-LAN transmission information from thebar-code image data, which has been output from the image sensingdevice, based upon control by the image sensing controller; and awireless-LAN device setting device for setting the wireless-LANtransmission information, which has been detected by the wireless-LANtransmission information detecting device, in the wireless-LAN device.

The third aspect of the present invention provides also a control methodsuited to the digital still camera described above. Specifically, thepresent invention provides a method of controlling a digital stillcamera for sensing the image of a subject using an image sensing deviceand recording image data, which represents the image of the subject, ona recording medium, the method comprising the steps of: wirelesslytransmitting image data, which has been recorded on the recordingmedium, based upon set wireless-LAN information in accordance withsetting of a wireless-LAN transmission mode; setting a mode for sensingthe image of a bar code, in which wireless-LAN setting information hasbeen recorded, in accordance with setting of the wireless-LANtransmission mode; controlling the image sensing device, in response tosetting of the bar-code-image sensing mode, so as to sense the image ofthe bar code and output bar-code image data representing the image ofthe bar code; detecting the wireless-LAN transmission information fromthe bar-code image data that has been output from the image sensingdevice; and setting the detected wireless-LAN transmission informationin the wireless-LAN device.

In accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, abar-code-image sensing mode can be set if a wireless LAN transmissionmode has been set. If the wireless LAN transmission mode has been set,it becomes possible to sense the image of a bar code in which has beenrecorded wireless LAN transmission information for utilizing a wirelessLAN transmission. As a result, when a transmission using a wireless LANbecomes necessary, it becomes possible to make a transition to abar-code-image sensing mode required to perform a wireless LANtransmission.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate thesame or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a digital still camera, and FIG. 1Billustrates a mode selection dial;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical structure of thedigital still camera;

FIG. 3 illustrates a two-dimensional bar code for AP information as wellas the AP information;

FIG. 4 illustrates a two-dimensional bar code fortransmission-destination information as well as thetransmission-destination information;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an image displayed on a display screen;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowcharts illustrating processing in a wireless LANmode;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of an image displayed on a display screen;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are flowcharts illustrating processing for setting anaccess-point transmission destination;

FIGS. 11 to 13 illustrate examples of images displayed on a displayscreen;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating processing for reading a bar code;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating processing for analyzing a bar code;and

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating processing in a preview mode.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described indetail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1A illustrates the back side of a digital still camera 1, and FIG.1B is an enlarged plane view of a mode selection dial 2.

As shown in FIG. 1A, provided on the top of the digital still camera 1is a shutter-release button 3 on the right-hand corner of the camerawhen viewed from the back. The mode selection dial 2, which is freelyrotatable, is provided in front of the shutter-release button 3. A radioantenna 4 is provided on the top of the camera at the left-hand cornerwhen viewed from the back.

A display screen 7 is formed on the back side of the digital stillcamera 1 substantially at the center thereof. Displayed on the displayscreen 7 are an image captured by image sensing, an image represented byimage data that has been read out of a memory card inserted into thedigital still camera 1, and an image for making various settingsrelative to the digital still camera 1.

A macro mode setting button 5 is provided at the upper left of thedisplay screen 7, and a power switch 12 is provided above the displayscreen 7. Provided on the right side of the display screen 7 are an up,down, left, right key 8 utilized to select a frame to be displayed onthe display screen 7 and to make various settings, a menu button 9, anexecute button 10 and a cancel button 11. An image sensing lens (notshown) is provided on the front side of the digital still camera 1, anda USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector is formed in the side face of thecamera (the side that is not visible in FIG. 1A).

As shown in FIG. 1B, an indicator 2A is formed on the left side of themode selection dial 2. Formed on the mode selection dial 2 in aprescribed spaced-apart relation in the circumferential directionthereof are characters 2 a reading “Setup”, characters 2 b reading“WLAN”, characters reading 2 c reading “USB”, characters 2 d reading“Mov”, characters 2 e reading “Cam”, and characters 2 f reading “Play”.

If the setup mode is to be set, the Setup characters 2 a are positionedat the indicator 2A. If the wireless LAN mode is to be set, the WLANcharacters 2 b are positioned at the indicator 2A. If the wireless USBmode is to be set, the USB characters 2 c are positioned at theindicator 2A. If the movie mode is to be set, the Mov characters 2 c arepositioned at the indicator 2A. If the camera mode is to be set, the Camcharacters 2 e are positioned at the indicator 2A. If the playback modeis to be set, the Play characters 2 f are positioned at the indicator2A.

The set-up mode is selected by the user if an initial setting, etc., isto be made, the wireless LAN mode if communication using a wireless LANis to be performed, the USB mode if sending and receiving of data is tobe performed with a personal computer using a USB cable, the movie modeif a moving picture is to be shot, the camera mode if a still picture isto be taken, and the playback mode if a moving picture or still pictureis to be played back.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical structure of thedigital still camera 1.

The overall operation of the digital still camera 1 is controlled by aCPU 15. A battery 43 supplies power to the CPU 15 and various othercircuits and devices included in the digital still camera 1.

The digital still camera 1 includes a system memory 34 and anon-volatile memory 35. A program and data, etc., for controlling theoperation of the digital still camera 1 have been stored in the systemmemory 34. Setting information (ESS-ID, WEP-KEY) for communication usinga wireless LAN and image-data transmission-destination information(address of the destination, password, etc.) are stored in thenon-volatile memory 35, as will be described later.

A timer 36 is used to measure elapsed time when photography is performedusing a self-timer. Date and time are measured by a calendar and clock37. The calendar and clock 37 also have a counter function, describedlater.

Output signals from the above-described mode selection dial 2,shutter-release button 3, up, down, left, right key 8, menu button 9,execute button 10 and cancel button 11 (these are indicated at referencenumeral 39 in FIG. 3) are input to the CPU 15 via an input/output (I/O)unit 38. If the digital still camera 1 has been provided with alight-emitting diode, a light-emission signal is output to thelight-emitting element via the input/output unit 38.

An electronic flash device 5 has its light emission controlled by aflash controller 24.

The digital still camera 1 includes an image sensing circuit 16. Theimage sensing circuit 16 includes a CCD for sensing the image of asubject and outputting an analog video signal representing the image ofthe subject, and a zoom lens for forming the image of the subject on thephotoreceptor surface of the CCD. If the camera mode is selected by themode selection dial 2, the image of the subject is sensed by the CCDincluded in the image sensing circuit 16. A video signal representingthe image of the subject is output from the image sensing circuit 16 toa signal processing block 20, which proceeds to execute predeterminedsignal processing. Specifically, the analog video signal that has beenoutput from the image sensing circuit 16 is amplified in a gain controlamplifying circuit 17 based upon a gain control signal provided by theCPU 15. (Sensitivity corresponding to ISO sensitivity can be raised byraising the degree of amplification of the gain control amplifyingcircuit 17.) The analog video signal that has been output from the gaincontrol amplifying circuit 17 is subjected to correlated dual samplingin a correlated dual sampling circuit 18, and the resultant signal isinput to a signal processing circuit 19. The latter executespredetermined signal processing such as a white balance adjustment andgamma correction and inputs the resultant signal to an analog/digitalconverting circuit 23. The latter converts this signal to digital imagedata.

The digital image data is input to an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)control circuit 31 via a frame memory 29 and is converted in the LCDcontrol circuit 31 to data suited to an LCD display. An image isdisplayed on the display screen 7.

Also input to the LCD control circuit 31 is an on-screen signal from anOSD (On-Screen Device) 30. Characters standing for date and timerepresented by the on-screen signal and an image representing acharacter can be displayed on a liquid crystal display device 32(display screen 7) in a form superimposed on the captured image.

If the shutter-release button 3 is pressed when the camera mode has beenselected by the mode selection dial 2, the image data obtained asdescribed above is stored temporarily in the frame memory 29. The imagedata is read out of the frame memory 29 and is compressed by acompression/expansion circuit 25. The compressed image data is recordedon a memory card 42 that has been inserted in an memory-card slot 41 viaa card interface 40.

If the playback mode is selected, image data that has been recorded onthe memory card 42 is applied to the compression/expansion circuit 25via the card interface 40. The compression/expansion circuit 25 executesexpansion processing and inputs the expanded image data to the LCDcontrol circuit 31 via the frame memory 29. The image represented by theimage data that has been recorded on the memory card 42 is displayed onthe liquid crystal display device 32 (display screen 7).

The digital still camera 1 is equipped with an antenna 4 for performinga wireless transmission utilizing a wireless LAN, as mentioned above. Awireless interface 26 is connected to the antenna 4. The sending andreceiving of image data utilizing a wireless LAN is performed betweenthe digital still camera 1 and an image-data receiving apparatus (notshown) via the antenna 4 using wireless-LAN setting information that hasbeen stored in the non-volatile memory 35.

The digital still camera 1 is provided with a USB connector 28 and a USBfunction driver 27 for communication with a personal computer or thelike using a USB cable.

In the digital still camera according to this embodiment, access point(AP) information (wireless-LAN setting information) that has beenrecorded in a two-dimensional bar code (a one-dimensional or other barcode may also be used) is read by sensing the image of the bar code inwhich this information has been recorded. The read access pointinformation is set in the digital still camera 1 by being stored in thenon-volatile memory 35. Similarly, by sensing the image of atwo-dimensional bar code in which transmission-destination informationhas been recorded, this information is read from the two-dimensional barcode. The read transmission-destination information is stored in thenon-volatile memory 35. In particular, in a case where the image of atwo-dimensional bar code is sensed in this embodiment, the camera is setto a macro image sensing mode (the camera zoom lens is placed at aposition at which the focal length is shortened so as to adapt thecamera to the imaging of a subject that is a short distance away).Accordingly, a comparatively large two-dimensional bar-code image isobtained.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a two-dimensional bar code as well asAP information that has been recorded in the two-dimensional bar code.

Included in the AP (Access Point) information are “AP”, which is for thepurpose of informing that the information is AP information, a title(TITLE), ESSID and WEP-KEY. Such AP information is recorded in thetwo-dimensional bar code.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a two-dimensional bar code as well astransmission-destination information that has been recorded in thetwo-dimensional bar code.

The transmission-destination information includes “TO”, which is for thepurpose of informing that the information is transmission-destinationinformation, a title (TITLE), user name (USR) and password (PASS). Suchtransmission-destination information is recorded in the two-dimensionalbar code.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a SETUP mode image displayed on thedisplay screen of the digital still camera 1.

Items that can be set in the SETUP mode are a clock, photography mode,image quality, number of pixels and ISO sensitivity. Date and time aredisplayed opposite the clock item. Characters reading “NORMAL”,“PREVIEW” and “CONSECUTIVE” are displayed opposite the photography modeitem. Characters reading “FINE”, “NORMAL” and “ECONOMY” are displayedopposite the image quality item. Characters reading “1600×1200”,“1280×960” and “640×4801” are displayed opposite the number of pixelsitem. Characters reading “100”, “1200”, “400” and “800” are displayedopposite the ISO sensitivity item.

One item among the plurality of items is highlighted by a cursor C. Thecursor C is moved to an upper or lower item by pressing the up arrow ordown arrow on the up, down, left, right key 8. The item at which thecursor C is situated can be set.

One item of content among content (characters) corresponding to thephotography mode is enclosed by a cursor C1. The camera is set to thecontent enclosed by the cursor C1. Similarly, one item of content amongcontent (characters) corresponding to image quality is enclosed by acursor C2, one item of content among content (characters) correspondingto number of pixels is enclosed by a cursor C3, and one item of contentamong content (characters) corresponding to ISO sensitivity is enclosedby a cursor C4. The digital still camera 1 is set to the contentenclosed by these cursors.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowcharts illustrating processing in a case where thewireless-LAN mode has been selected by the mode selection dial 2.

If the wireless-LAN mode has been set, the last image that was taken isset as the image to be displayed from among the images represented bythe image data that has been recorded on the memory card 42 (step 51).

Next, together with the image that has been set, the AP information andtransmission-destination information to which the digital still camera 1has been set is displayed on the display screen 7 of the digital stillcamera 1 (step 53). If the AP information and transmission-destinationinformation has not been set (i.e., if the AP information indicating theaccess point and the transmission-destination information indicating thetransmission destination utilized in transmission has not been stored inthe non-volatile memory 35), then the sections in which the APinformation and transmission-destination information is to be displayedwill be blank.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of an image in which an access point orthe like is displayed.

The image that has been set is being displayed over the entirety of thedisplay screen 7. Set at the upper right of the image are an area Allthat notifies the user of frame feed of the image displayed on thedisplay screen 7, an area A12 that notifies the user of the fact thatimage data representing the image being displayed on the display screen7 will be transmitted wirelessly, and an area A13 that notifies the userof the fact that it is possible to change (or set anew) at least one ofthe settings relating to AP information and transmission-destinationinformation by pressing the menu button 9. Access point (AP, whichindicates a public WLAN spot) and transmission destination (TO: OOOPrint Service) are displayed in an area A14 underneath the image beingdisplayed on the display screen 7.

With reference again to FIG. 6, if the left arrow or right arrow on theup, down, left, right button 8 is pressed (“YES” at step 54), then theimage displayed on the display screen 7 changes (step 55). The image ofthe frame that precedes the image currently being displayed is displayedif the left arrow is pressed, and the image of the frame that followsthe image currently being displayed is displayed if the right arrow ispressed.

If the execute button 10 is pressed (“YES” at step 56), then atransition is made to processing for transmitting the image data thatrepresents the image being displayed on the display screen 7. Thistransmit processing will be described later.

If the menu button 9 is pressed (“YES” at step 57) without pressing theexecute button 10 (“NO” at step 56), then a transition is made toprocessing, which is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, for setting APinformation and transmission-destination information (step 58). Thisprocessing for setting AP information and transmission-destinationinformation will also be described later.

Thus, processing for setting AP information and transmission-destinationinformation is executed on the condition that the wireless-LAN mode hasbeen set. The processing for setting AP information andtransmission-destination information is executed in response to settingof the wireless-LAN mode. If the menu button 9 is not pressed (“NO” atstep 57) and, moreover, the mode is not changed by the mode selectiondial 2 (“NO” at step 59), then the processing from step 53 onward isrepeated. If the mode is changed (“YES” at step 59), then the mode towhich the change has been made becomes the active mode.

If the execute button 10 is pressed (“YES” at step 56), then whether thetransmission destination has been set is checked (“YES” at step 60). Ifa transmission destination has not been set (“NO” at step 60), then thefact that a transmission destination has not been set is displayed onthe display screen 7 (step 61).

If the transmission destination has been set (“YES” at step 60), thenthe access point that has been set is accessed using the AP information(step 62). If accessing of the access point does not succeed (“NO” atstep 63), then the fact that accessing of the access point failed isdisplayed on the display screen 7 (step 64).

If accessing of the access point succeeds (“YES” at step 63), then theconnection to the set transmission destination is made using thetransmission-destination information (step 65). If accessing of thetransmission destination does not succeed (“NO” at step 66), then thefact that accessing of the transmission destination failed is displayedon the display screen 7 (step 70).

If accessing of the transmission destination succeeds (“YES” at step66), the image data representing the image being displayed on thedisplay screen 7 is read from the frame memory 29 and is transmittedfrom the radio antenna 4 to the transmission destination (step 68). Iftransmission of the image data does not succeed (“NO” at step 69), thenthe fact that transmission failed is displayed on the display screen 7(step 70). If transmission of the image data succeeds (“YES” at step69), then the fact that transmission succeeded is displayed on thedisplay screen 7 (step 71).

FIGS. 9 and 10 are flowcharts illustrating processing for setting APinformation and transmission-destination information (the processing ofstep 58 in FIG. 6).

As mentioned above, a transition is made to the processing for settingAP information and transmission-destination information if the menubutton 9 is pressed in the wireless-LAN mode. When this is done, animage for selecting setting of the AP information (select AP) or settingof the transmission-destination information (select transmissiondestination) is displayed on the display screen 7 in the manner shown inFIG. 11 (step 81).

The frame number (001-0001) of the image to be transmitted is beingdisplayed on the selection image. The characters “SELECT AP” and thecharacters “SELECT TRANSMISSION DESTINATION” are being displayed atapproximately the center of the selection image. Either of these itemsof text is enclosed by a cursor C21. Further, the selection imageincludes an area A21 for notifying the user of the method of moving thecursor C21, and an area A22 for notifying the user of the method ofselecting the AP information or transmission-destination information.

The area A21 displays the fact that the cursor C21 will be moved upward(characters indicating the AP selection are enclosed by the cursor C21)by pressing the up arrow on the up, down, left, right button 8, anddownward (characters indicating the transmission destination selectionare enclosed by the cursor C21) by pressing the down arrow. The area A22displays the fact that the processing enclosed by the cursor C21 will beselected by pressing the menu button 9.

If the menu button 9 is pressed in a case where the “SELECT AP” text hasbeen enclosed by the cursor C21, then a transition will be made toprocessing for setting an access point. If the menu button 9 is pressedin a case where the “SELECT TRANSMISSION DESTINATION” text has beenenclosed by the cursor C21, then a transition will be made to processingfor setting a transmission destination.

With reference again to FIG. 9, it is determined whether selection of APor selection of transmission destination has been made (steps 82, 83).First it will be assumed that selection of transmission destination hasbeen made (“NO” at step 82, “YES” at step 83).

If selection of transmission destination is executed, atransmission-destination selection image illustrated in FIG. 12 will bedisplayed on the display screen 7 of the digital still camera 1 (step84).

Transmission destinations (OOO Print Service, Internet Album Service, OxLaboratory), which have already been stored in the non-volatile memory35 of digital still camera 1, are being displayed at the approximatecenter of the image for selecting transmission destination. Any one ofthese transmission destinations is enclosed by a cursor C31. It may beso arranged that if a transmission destination has already been set,then the set transmission destination will be enclosed by the cursor C31at the start.

Displayed on the right side of the transmission-destination selectionimage are an area A31 for notifying the user of the method of moving thecursor C31, an area A32 for notifying the user of the method of makingthe selection, an area A33 for notifying the user of the method ofdeleting what has been registered, and an area 34 for notifying the userof the method of performing registration anew.

The area A31 displays the fact that the cursor C31 will be moved upwardby pressing the up arrow on the up, down, left, right button 8, anddownward by pressing the down arrow. The area A32 displays the fact thatthe transmission destination enclosed by the cursor C31 will be selectedby pressing the execute button 10. The area A33 displays the fact thatregistration of the transmission destination enclosed by the cursor C31will be deleted by pressing the cancel key 11. The area A34 displays thefact that processing for newly registering the transmission destinationwill be started by pressing the menu button 9.

With reference again to FIG. 9, if the menu button 9 is pressed (“YES”at step 85) in a case where the transmission-destination selection imageis being displayed on the display screen 7, a shoot-command image isdisplayed on the display screen 7 (step 94). This command instructs thatthe digital still camera 1 be pointed toward the two-dimensional barcode for transmission-destination information (see FIG. 4) and that thisbar code be photographed. The two-dimensional bar code fortransmission-destination information is then photographed by the userand processing is executed to read the transmission-destinationinformation that has been recorded in the bar code (step 95). Thedetails of read processing will be described later.

If reading of the bar code succeeds (“YES” at step 96), then the readtransmission-destination information is analyzed (step 97). If the readtransmission-destination information is in accordance withspecifications and is correct (“YES” at step 98), then the readtransmission-destination information is registered anew (step 99). Theread transmission-destination information is thus stored in thenon-volatile memory 35 (step 93). If processing for reading the bar codedoes not succeed (“NO” at step 96), the fact that reading of thetransmission destination failed is displayed on the display screen 7(step 100). If necessary, the processing for reading the two-dimensionalbar code for transmission-destination information is executed again.

If the menu button 9 is not pressed (“NO” at step 85), processingdiffers depending upon the button that is pressed. If the cancel button11 is pressed (“YES” at step 86), then the transmission destinationenclosed by the cursor C31 (the transmission destination that is infocus) is deleted from the registered information (step 87). Further,the cursor C31 moves to the leading transmission destination (thedestination at the top) (step 88). If the up arrow or down arrow of theup, down, left, right button 8 is pressed (“YES” at step 89), then thecursor C31 moves up or down in accordance with the arrow pressed (step90). If the execute button 10 is pressed (“YES” at step 91), then thetransmission destination enclosed by the cursor C31 is set as thetransmission destination of the image data (step 92). The settransmission destination is stored in the non-volatile memory 35 (step93).

If selection of AP is made (“YES” at step 82), then the AP selectionimage shown in FIG. 13 is displayed on the display screen 7 of thedigital still camera 1 (step 101).

In a manner similar to that of the image for selecting transmissiondestination, already registered access points (a residence, a publicWLAN spot and an office) are being displayed at the approximate centerof the AP selection image. Any one of the access points among theseregistered access points is enclosed by a cursor C41. It may be soarranged that an access point that has already been set is enclosed bythe cursor C41.

Displayed on the right side of the transmission-destination selectionimage are an area A41 for notifying the user of the method of moving thecursor C41, an area A42 for notifying the user of the method of makingthe selection, an area A43 for notifying the user of the method ofdeleting what has. been registered, and an area 44 for notifying theuser of the method of performing registration anew.

The area A41 displays the fact that the cursor C41 will be moved upwardby pressing the up arrow on the up, down, left, right button 8, anddownward by pressing the down arrow. The area A42 displays the fact thatthe transmission destination enclosed by the cursor C41 will be selectedby pressing the execute button 10. The area A43 displays the fact thatregistration of the transmission destination enclosed by the cursor C41will be deleted by pressing the cancel key 11. The area A44 displays thefact that processing for newly registering the transmission destinationwill be started by pressing the menu button 9.

With reference again to FIG. 10, a transition is made to processing forreading the AP information if the menu button 9 is pressed (“YES” atstep 102).

In a manner similar to that of processing for reading thetransmission-destination information, a shoot-command image is displayedon the display screen 7 of the digital still camera 1 (step 111). Thiscommand instructs that the digital still camera 1 be pointed toward thetwo-dimensional bar code for AP information (see FIG. 3) and that thisbar code be photographed. The two-dimensional bar code for APinformation is read (step 112). If reading of the bar code succeeds(“YES” at step 113), then the read information is analyzed (step 114).If the read information is in accordance with specifications of APinformation and is correct (“YES” at step 115), then the read accesspoint is set as the access point used in transmitting image data (step116). The set access point is stored in the non-volatile memory 35 (step110).

If the menu button 9 is not pressed (“NO” at step 102), processing thatconforms to the button pressed is executed.

If the cancel button 11 is pressed (“YES” at step 86), then the accesspoint enclosed by the cursor C41 is deleted (step 104) and the leadingaccess point is enclosed by the cursor C41 (step 105). If the up arrowor down arrow of the up, down, left, right button 8 is pressed (“YES” atstep 106), then the cursor C41 moves up or down (step 107). If theexecute button 10 is pressed (“YES” at step 108), then the access pointenclosed by the cursor C41 is set as the access point (step 109). Theset access point is stored in the non-volatile memory 35 (step 110).

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating processing for reading a bar code(the processing of step 95 in FIG. 9 or step 112 in FIG. 10).

If a transition is made to processing for reading a bar code, first thedigital still camera is set to the macro image sensing mode (step 121).Further, if an electronic flash mode has been set, the light emission isturned off (step 122). Furthermore, a gain control signal applied to thegain control amplifying circuit 17 included in the signal processingblock 20 is controlled so as to obtain an ISO sensitivity that isequivalent to 800 (step 123). A counter for limiting the number of timesbar-code read processing is executed is initialized (step 124).

Next, processing for analyzing the bar code is started up (step 125).Processing for analyzing the bar code will be described later (see FIG.15). The bar code is photographed in the preview mode with theprocessing for analyzing the bar code having been started (step 126).Processing in the preview mode also will be described later.

A flag indicating whether analysis of the photographed bar code hassucceeded is set in the preview mode. If the flag has been set to TRUE(step 127), it is construed that bar-code read processing has succeededand processing is then exited. If the flag has been set to FALSE (step127), then whether the count is the maximum value is checked (step 128).If the count has not attained the maximum value, then the counter isincremented (step 129) and processing from step 125 onward is repeated.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating processing for analyzing a bar code.

If bar-code photography in the preview mode is carried out, as will bedescribed later, image data representing the bar code is storedtemporarily in the frame memory 29. Accordingly, the bar code isphotographed in the preview mode and whether bar-code image data thathas not been compressed has been stored in the frame memory 29 ischecked (step 131). If bar-code image data has been stored temporarilyin the frame memory 29 (“YES” at step 131), then the bar-code image datais read and the content of the bar code is analyzed (step 132). Thisanalysis can be performed utilizing a CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check),check sum or Reed-Solomon code, etc.

If the reading and analysis of the bar-code image data have succeeded(“YES” at step 133), then a flag is set to TRUE (step 134). In the eventof failure (“NO” at step 133), the flag is set to FALSE (step 135). Thecontent of the flag thus set is utilized in bar-code read processing inthe manner described above.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating processing in the preview mode (theprocessing of step 126 in FIG. 14).

The bar code is photographed, bar-code image data representing thebar-code image is applied to the frame memory 29 in the uncompressedstate and here the data is stored temporarily (step 141). The bar-codeimage data is applied to the frame memory 29 and the bar-code image isdisplayed on the display screen 7 (step 142). The camera stands by untila command of some kind is applied (step 143).

If the reading and analysis of the bar-code image data succeed in thebar-code analysis processing (FIG. 15) in the manner described above, anNG command (a command to the effect that image data that has been storedtemporarily in the system memory 34 not be recorded on the memory card42) is generated (step 143; NG at step 144). Thus, the generation of theNG command in a case where a bar code has been photographed prevents thebar-code image data from being recorded on the memory card 42. It goeswithout saying, however, that it may be so arranged that bar-code imagedata is recorded on the memory card 42.

In the ordinary preview mode, the image of the subject is displayed onthe display screen 7 (step 142) and is checked by the user. In a casewhere the image data representing the image of the subject is recordedon the memory card 42, the execute button 10 is pressed by the user. Ifthe image data representing the image of the subject is not to berecorded on the memory card 42, the cancel key 11 is pressed by user. AnOK command is generated by pressing the execute button 10, and an NGcommand is generated by pressing the cancel key 11.

In response to generation of the OK command, the image data that hasbeen stored temporarily in the system memory 34 is read and is thencompressed by the compression/expansion circuit 25 (step 145). Further,thumbnail image data is generated from the image data (step 146).Furthermore, prescribed tag information is generated (step 147). Animage file is generated from the compressed image data, the thumbnailimage data and the tag information and the file is recorded on thememory card 42 (step 148).

As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present inventioncan be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificembodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

1. A digital still camera having an image sensing device for sensing theimage of a subject and outputting image data representing the image ofthe subject, and a recording controller for recording image data, whichhas been output from the image sensing device, on a recording medium,said digital still camera comprising: a bar-code-image sensing modesetting device for setting a mode for sensing the image of a bar code inwhich has been recorded setting information to be used in a transmissionutilizing a wireless LAN; an image sensing controller for controllingthe image sensing device, in response to setting of the bar-code-imagesensing mode by said bar-code-image sensing mode setting device, so asto sense the image of the bar code by a macro image sensing mode andoutput bar-code image data representing the image of the bar code; awireless-LAN setting information detecting device for detecting thewireless-LAN setting information from the bar-code image data, which hasbeen output from the image sensing device, based upon control by saidimage sensing controller; and a wireless-LAN transmitting device forwirelessly transmitting image data, which has been recorded on therecording medium, using the wireless-LAN setting information that hasbeen detected by said wireless-LAN setting information detecting device.2. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising: a preview modesetting device for setting a preview mode; a camera internal memory fortemporarily storing image data, which has been output from the imagesensing device, in response to setting of the preview mode by saidpreview mode setting device; and a recording command device forinputting a recording command; wherein said recording controller recordsimage data, which has been stored temporarily in said camera internalmemory, on the recording medium in response to input of a recordingcommand from said recording command device; and said wireless-LANsetting information detecting device detects the wireless-LAN settinginformation from the bar-code image data that has been storedtemporarily in said camera internal memory.
 3. The digital still cameraaccording to claim 2, further comprising a controller for controllingsaid image sensing controller and said wireless-LAN informationdetecting device so as to repeat the sensing of bar code and thedetection of the wireless-LAN setting information in response to failureof detection of the wireless-LAN information by said wireless-LANinformation detecting device.
 4. A digital still camera having an imagesensing device for sensing the image of a subject and outputting imagedata representing the image of the subject, and a recording controllerfor recording image data, which has been output from the image sensingdevice, on a recording medium, said digital still camera comprising: abar-code-image sensing mode setting device for setting a mode forsensing the image of a bar code in which has been recorded image-datatransmission destination information; an image sensing controller forcontrolling the image sensing device, in response to setting of thebar-code-image sensing mode by said bar-code-image sensing mode settingdevice, so as to sense the image of the bar code by a macro imagesensing mode and output bar-code image data representing the image ofthe bar code; a transmission-destination information detecting devicefor detecting the transmission-destination information from the bar-codeimage data, which has been output from the image sensing device, basedupon control by said image sensing controller; and a wireless LAN devicefor wirelessly transmitting image data, which has been recorded on therecording medium, to the transmission destination specified by thetransmission-destination information detected by saidtransmission-destination information detecting device.
 5. The digitalstill camera according to claim 4, further comprising: a preview modesetting device for setting a preview mode; a camera internal memory fortemporarily storing image data, which has been output from the imagesensing device, in response to setting of the preview mode by saidpreview mode setting device; and a recording command device forinputting a recording command; wherein said recording controller recordsimage data, which has been stored temporarily in said camera internalmemory, on the recording medium in response to input of a recordingcommand from said recording command device; and saidtransmission-destination information detecting device detects thetransmission-destination information from the bar-code image data thathas been stored temporarily in said camera internal memory.
 6. Thedigital still camera according to claim 5, further comprising acontroller for controlling said image sensing controller and saidtransmission-destination information detecting device so as to repeatthe sensing of bar code and the detection of thetransmission-destination information in response to failure of detectionof the transmission-destination information by saidtransmission-destination information detecting device.
 7. The digitalstill camera according to claim 1, wherein the image sensing deviceincludes a solid-state image sensing element for sensing the image of asubject and outputting an analog video signal representing the image ofthe subject, a gain-control amplifying circuit for adjusting level ofthe analog video signal that has been output from the solid-state imagesensing element, and an analog/digital converting circuit for convertingthe analog video signal, which has been output from the gain-controlamplifying circuit, to image data, said digital still camera furthercomprising: an electronic flash device; and a controller for exercisingcontrol so as to turn off a light emission in the electronic flashdevice and raise gain in said gain-control amplifying circuit inresponse to setting of the bar-code-image sensing mode by saidbar-code-image sensing mode setting device.
 8. The digital still cameraaccording to claim 4, wherein the image sensing device includes asolid-state image sensing element for sensing the image of a subject andoutputting an analog video signal representing the image of the subject,a gain-control amplifying circuit for adjusting level of the analogvideo signal that has been output from the solid-state image sensingelement, and an analog/digital converting circuit for converting theanalog video signal, which has been output from the gain-controlamplifying circuit, to image data, said digital still camera furthercomprising: an electronic flash device; and a controller for exercisingcontrol so as to turn off a light emission in the electronic flashdevice and raise gain in said gain-control amplifying circuit inresponse to setting of the bar-code-image sensing mode by saidbar-code-image sensing mode setting device.
 9. A digital still camerafor sensing the image of a subject using an image sensing device andrecording image data, which represents the image of the subject, on arecording medium, comprising: a setting device for setting awireless-LAN transmission mode; a wireless LAN device for wirelesslytransmitting image data, which has been recorded on the recordingmedium, based upon set wireless-LAN information in response to settingof the wireless-LAN transmission mode by said wireless-LAN transmissionmode setting device; a bar-code-image sensing mode setting device forsetting a mode for sensing the image of a bar code, in whichwireless-LAN setting information has been recorded, in accordance withsetting of the wireless-LAN transmission mode by said wireless-LANtransmission mode setting device; an image sensing controller forcontrolling the image sensing device in response to setting of thebar-code-image sensing mode by said bar-code-image sensing mode settingdevice so as to sense the image of the bar code and output bar-codeimage data representing the image of the bar code; a wireless-LANtransmission information detecting device for detecting the wireless-LANtransmission information from the bar-code image data, which has beenoutput from the image sensing device, based upon control by said imagesensing controller; and a wireless-LAN device setting device for settingthe wireless-LAN transmission information, which has been detected bysaid wireless-LAN transmission information detecting device, in thewireless-LAN device.
 10. A method of controlling a digital still camerahaving an image sensing device for sensing the image of a subject andoutputting image data representing the image of the subject, and arecording controller for recording image data, which has been outputfrom the image sensing device, on a recording medium, said methodcomprising the steps of: controlling the image sensing device, inresponse to setting of a mode for sensing the image of a bar code inwhich has been recorded setting information to be used in a transmissionutilizing a wireless LAN, so as to sense the image of the bar code by amacro image sensing mode and output bar-code image data representing theimage of the bar code; detecting the wireless-LAN setting informationfrom the bar-code image data, which has been output from the imagesensing device; and wirelessly transmitting image data, which has beenrecorded on the recording medium, by a wireless LAN using the detectedwireless-LAN setting information.
 11. A method of controlling a digitalstill camera having an image sensing device for sensing the image of asubject and outputting image data representing the image of the subject,and a recording controller for recording image data, which has beenoutput from the image sensing device, on a recording medium, said methodcomprising the steps of: controlling the image sensing device, inresponse to setting of a mode for sensing the image of a bar code inwhich has been recorded image-data transmission destination information,so as to sense the image of the bar code by a macro image sensing modeand output bar-code image data representing the image of the bar code;detecting the transmission-destination information from the bar-codeimage data that has been output from the image sensing device; andwirelessly transmitting image data, which has been recorded on therecording medium, to the transmission destination specified by thetransmission-destination information detected.
 12. A method ofcontrolling a digital still camera for sensing the image of a subjectusing an image sensing device and recording image data, which representsthe image of the subject, on a recording medium, said method comprisingthe steps of: wirelessly transmitting image data, which has beenrecorded on the recording medium, based upon set wireless-LANinformation in response to setting of a wireless-LAN transmission mode;setting a mode for sensing the image of a bar code, in whichwireless-LAN setting information has been recorded, in response tosetting of the wireless-LAN transmission mode; controlling the imagesensing device, in response to setting of the bar-code-image sensingmode, so as to sense the image of the bar code and output bar-code imagedata representing the image of the bar code; detecting the wireless-LANtransmission information from the bar-code image data that has beenoutput from the image sensing device; and setting the detectedwireless-LAN transmission information in the wireless-LAN device.